It's not possible to find out who you got genital warts from or how long you've had the infection.

Treatment for genital warts

Treatment for genital warts needs to be prescribed by a doctor.

The type of treatment you'll be offered depends on what your warts are like. The doctor or nurse will discuss this with you.

cream or liquid: you can usually apply this to the warts yourself a few times a week for several weeks, but in some cases you may need to go to the clinic every week for a doctor or nurse to apply it – these treatments can cause soreness, irritation or a burning sensation

surgery: a doctor or nurse can cut, burn or laser the warts off – this can cause irritation or scarring

freezing: a doctor or nurse freezes the warts, usually every week for 4 weeks – this can cause soreness

It may take weeks or months for treatment to work, and the warts may come back. In some people the treatment doesn't work.

There's no cure for genital warts but it's possible for your body to clear the virus over time.

Do

tell the doctor or nurse if you're pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant, as some treatments won't be suitable

avoid perfumed soaps or bubble baths during treatment as these can irritate the skin

ask the doctor or nurse if your cream treatment will affect condoms, diaphragms or caps

Don't

do not use wart treatment from a pharmacy – these are not made for genital warts

do not smoke – many treatments for genital warts work better if you don't smoke

do not have vaginal, anal or oral sex until the warts have gone – if you do, use a condom

How genital warts are passed on

The genital warts virus can be passed on whether or not there are visible warts.

Many people with the virus don't have symptoms but can still pass it on. If you have genital warts, your current sexual partners should get tested as they may have warts and not know it.

If symptoms do appear, it can happen over a year after infection.

You can get genital warts from:

skin-to-skin contact, including vaginal and anal sex

sharing sex toys

rarely, oral sex

The virus can also be passed to a baby from the mother at birth, but this is rare.

You can't get genital warts from:

kissing

things like towels, cutlery, cups or toilet seats

Preventing the spread of genital warts

You can prevent warts passing on by:

using a condom every time you have vaginal, anal or oral sex – but if the virus is present in skin not protected by a condom, it can still be passed on

not having sex while you're having treatment for genital warts

Why genital warts come back

Genital warts are caused by a virus called human papilloma virus (HPV). There are many types of HPV.

The HPV virus can stay in your skin, and warts can develop again.

Warts may go away without treatment but this can take many months. You can still pass the virus on, and the warts may come back.

Genital warts and cancer

Genital warts are not cancer and don't cause cancer.

The HPV vaccine offered to girls in the UK to protect against cervical cancer also protects against genital warts.

From April 2018, the HPV vaccine has also been offered to men who have sex with men (MSM), trans men and trans women who are eligible.